MeridenCommunityCentre

In December 2012 the Trust took over the running of Meriden Community Centre from Watford Borough Council amidst plans to refurbish the centre both internally and externally, including a projected redevelopment of a tarmac area.

Four years later, in November 2016, Meriden Community Centre officially re-opened after a nearly £2million investment from a number of organisations and a complete refurbishment of the facilities both internally and externally.

The Meriden Community Centre project was made possible by funding and support from several organisations; Sport England, Watford Borough Council, The FA and Premier League Facilities Fund delivered by the Football Foundation, Watford Community Housing, Watford Football Club as well as Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust itself.

The Centre boasts brand new facilities such as the 3G artificial grass pitch, male and female changing rooms and state of the art gym, as well as the revamped main hall, flexible space and café.

The refurbished facility has been designed for the whole of the local community, irrespective of age, ability, gender, ethnicity, or background. The Centre offers everything from 5-a-side football, yoga, martial arts and dance. As well as sport, the Centre also offers areas for hire and a variety of activities such as, art class, music gym and social clubs.

Further funding in 2018 meant a renovation of the Centre’s play area.

The play area is specifically designed for pre-school and Key Stage 1 children, with the aim of promoting recycling and the importance of looking after nature. It was built largely thanks to the financial support of the Veolia Trust, as well as Awards For All, Tesco Bags of Help, and Meriden Ward Councillor Kareen Hastrick.